protect our system of checks and balances

As a concerned constituent from Maine, I am writing to express my profound disappointment regarding the continuing resolution (CR) passed on March 14, 2025. I am particularly dismayed by Representative Jared Golden and Senator Angus King’s failure to force Republicans to remove language that restricts Congress’s ability to oversee the executive branch, especially concerning tariffs imposed by the executive. This language could have been stripped from the CR before its passage, yet Golden and King allowed it to remain, which I view as a betrayal of our democratic system. The language in question delays Congress’s ability to quickly challenge executive actions, such as tariffs, through the fast-track process under the National Emergencies Act. By not insisting that Republicans remove this provision, Golden and King have weakened Congress’s role as a co-equal branch of government, undermining the checks and balances that are fundamental to our democracy. This failure risks economic harm to Maine and the nation if unchecked tariffs disrupt our livelihoods, but more critically, it erodes the legislative branch’s authority to hold the executive accountable—a precedent that could invite further overreach. I believe Golden and King had the leverage to demand the removal of this language and still pass the CR to keep the government funded. Their decision to let it stand feels like a surrender of Congress’s constitutional duty, prioritizing political expediency over principle. Democracy thrives when our representatives fiercely defend the balance of power, not when they acquiesce to measures that diminish it. I urge each of you to act swiftly to restore Congress’s full oversight authority. This could mean pushing to reinstate the fast-track process or ensuring such restrictive language is excluded from future legislation. Maine’s delegation must lead in safeguarding our democratic institutions, and I call on you to demonstrate that commitment now. Thank you for considering this urgent matter. I eagerly await your response and evidence of concrete steps to protect our system of checks and balances.